Forewick Holm is a 1-hectare (2.5-acre) island in the Sound of Papa, between Papa Stour and the Mainland of Shetland.[3] It lies adjacent to a skerry called Scarf's Head, and the two are connected at low tide.[5] Forewick Holm has gained notoriety through its association with Stuart "Captain Calamity" Hill, who claims that the island is a sovereign micronation named "Forvik". The Forvik project's stated purpose is to show Shetlanders what they could achieve if they asserted their legal rights and seceded from the United Kingdom.[6]
_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1780521.jpg) View of the islet from Sandness with Papa Stour in the background | |
| Location | |
|---|---|
  Forewick Holm Forewick Holm shown within Scotland | |
| OS grid reference | HU 18677 59494 |
| Coordinates | 60°19′09″N 1°39′49″W / 60.319117°N 1.663705°W |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Shetland |
| Area | 1 hectare (2.5 acres) |
| Area rank | na [1] |
| Highest elevation | 10 metres (33 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Council area | Shetland |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
 | |
| References | [2][3][4] |
History
editThe SS Highcliffe was wrecked on the island on 6 February 1940. It was carrying a cargo of iron ore from Narvik, bound for Immingham.[7]
Forvik
edit
Forvik's founder, Stuart Hill, is a native of Essex who was shipwrecked in Shetland in 2001 during a failed attempt to circumnavigate the British Isles, earning him the nickname "Captain Calamity".[8][9] He subsequently settled in Shetland and became an advocate for the islands' independence. Hill argues that Shetland was never formally ceded to Scotland or Great Britain, making the British government's exercise of sovereignty over the islands illegal. In order to draw attention to his cause, he acquired the islet of Forewick Holm and on 21 June 2008 declared it to be an autonomous Crown dependency known as "Forvik". The declaration invited Shetlanders to add their own properties to the dependency in order to create a new federation "free of liars, thieves and tyrants in government".[10] On 23 February 2011, Hill issued a further declaration stating that Forvik had severed its ties to the Crown and become a fully independent state known as the "Sovereign State of Forvik".[11]
Hill's right to Forewick Holm has been contested by Mark King, the island's original owner. Hill claims to have a signed, witnessed document confirming King's intention to donate the island to him, but King says that he signed this during a manic episode and that the land registry still lists him as the owner.[12]
In 2008, Hill began work on an "official residence" on the island, its first and only permanent structure.[13][6] He also laid claim to the surrounding seabed and invited companies to bid for oil exploration rights.[6][14] "Citizenships" were made available for purchase, costing between one and five Forvik guldens (i.e. £60 to £360).[15] Membership was later set at £20 per annum, and in 2015 Hill claimed there were 218 members.[16]
Hill travelled to and from the island on a flat-bottomed plywood boat of his own creation. In September 2008, he had to be rescued by a Coastguard helicopter and RNLI lifeboat after his vessel began to sink. His boat was described as "ramshackle" and as a "floating wardrobe", and he was criticised by his rescuers for having no lifejacket or radio aboard.[17]
Hill has refused to pay road tax or insurance to the British government, instead creating documents issued by Forvik. In 2011, he was found guilty of driving offences arising from this.[18]
References
edit- ^ Area and population ranks: there are c. 300 islands over 20 ha in extent and 93 permanently inhabited islands were listed in the 2011 census.
- ^ Shetland Action. "Keep asking "When did the Crown get ownership?"". shetlandconversation.squarespace.com. Archived from the original on 22 June 2008. Retrieved 22 June 2008.
- ^ a b Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. p. 451. ISBN 978-1-84195-454-7.
- ^ Grid reference HU 18677 59494
- ^ "Shetland OS Name Books, 1877–1878". ScotlandsPlaces. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
- ^ a b c Riddell, Neil (18 July 2008). "Hill issues invitation to oil firms over rights to the Forvik seabed". The Shetland Times.
- ^ "Highcliffe: Forewick Holm, Papa Stour, Sound of Papa". Canmore. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
- ^ "'Captain Calamity' returns to sea". BBC News. 21 July 2001.
- ^ "Lucky escape for 'Captain Calamity'". BBC News. 22 August 2001.
- ^ "Declaration of Direct Dependence". Sovereign State of Forvik. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
- ^ "Declaration of Independence". Sovereign State of Forvik. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
- ^ Riddell, Neil (6 March 2009). "War of words over Forvik after island owner reveals it was gift". The Shetland Times.
- ^ Khan, Urmee (19 June 2008). "Captain Calamity to create new state in Shetland islands". The Daily Telegraph.
- ^ "Island owner welcomes oil bids". The Daily Record. 19 July 2008.
- ^ Robertson, John (25 July 2008). "Forvik wins some local backing as trio snap up plots of land and voting rights". The Shetland Times.
- ^ Nelson, George (29 April 2015). "Meet 'Captain Calamity,' the Man Who Wants to Free Shetland from the UK's 'Imperial Ruling Class'". Vice.
- ^ Dow, Bob (16 September 2008). "'Captain Calamity' rescued for 8th time after setting sail in 'floating wardrobe'". The Daily Record.
- ^ Bevington, Pete (14 December 2011). "Hill accused of using 'Google law'". Shetland News.
External links
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